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| In Iowa’s final stretch, Clinton pivots away from attacking rival Sanders | In Iowa’s final stretch, Clinton pivots away from attacking rival Sanders |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ADEL, Iowa — Hillary Clinton’s voice thundered through a bowling alley as she railed against corporate treachery and greed — then turned soft and thoughtful as she promised to “work my heart out” if elected. | ADEL, Iowa — Hillary Clinton’s voice thundered through a bowling alley as she railed against corporate treachery and greed — then turned soft and thoughtful as she promised to “work my heart out” if elected. |
| Clinton barely mentioned Sen. Bernie Sanders, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, during the appearance Wednesday morning, though her angry rant against corporate “inversion” deals and prescription drug “price-gouging” borrowed a leaf from his populist playbook. | |
| Here in the final, five-day sprint of an uncomfortably close Democratic contest in Iowa, Clinton has largely abandoned a strategy that appears to have done little to improve her standing with voters here: trying to directly discredit the senator from Vermont and his unstintingly liberal proposals. | |
| Clinton is still making comparisons with her late-surging opponent. But she is refraining from attacks that cast Sanders, and by extension his loyal, liberal followers, in a negative light. | Clinton is still making comparisons with her late-surging opponent. But she is refraining from attacks that cast Sanders, and by extension his loyal, liberal followers, in a negative light. |
| She has debuted a sunnier, more optimistic version of herself here this week while lacing her campaign appearances with some of the populist anger that animates Sanders. And she is asking humbly for caucus votes in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest, which is Monday. | |
| In a state where Clinton held a huge advantage until recent weeks, many Clinton allies have concluded from the lack of movement in recent polls that attacking Sanders didn’t help. And although they are now focused on merely squeaking to a victory here, they say they are more confident this week that she will do so. Clinton appears to be trying to project that confidence on the trail with a new measure of verve. | |
| “I think that’s great!” Clinton exclaimed during a town hall broadcast Monday on CNN, after she was shown a Sanders television spot called “America” that featured uplifting scenes of supporters and seemed to try to replicate the sense of momentum that Barack Obama built heading into his Iowa win in 2008. “I think that’s fabulous. I loved it!” | “I think that’s great!” Clinton exclaimed during a town hall broadcast Monday on CNN, after she was shown a Sanders television spot called “America” that featured uplifting scenes of supporters and seemed to try to replicate the sense of momentum that Barack Obama built heading into his Iowa win in 2008. “I think that’s fabulous. I loved it!” |
| Clinton’s shift comes at a perilous moment for the onetime Iowa front-runner — and reflects the continuing threat that Sanders and his impassioned supporters present for her. In trying to inject more life into her speeches — and to shore up her own liberal policy credentials — Clinton is clearly trying to resonate with the base that has fueled Sanders’s rise. | Clinton’s shift comes at a perilous moment for the onetime Iowa front-runner — and reflects the continuing threat that Sanders and his impassioned supporters present for her. In trying to inject more life into her speeches — and to shore up her own liberal policy credentials — Clinton is clearly trying to resonate with the base that has fueled Sanders’s rise. |
| “They’re angry,” Clinton said of voters in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday. “But you’ve got to do something about that. I’m angry too!” | “They’re angry,” Clinton said of voters in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday. “But you’ve got to do something about that. I’m angry too!” |
| [Sanders: Clinton is running a ‘desperate’ campaign that lacks excitement] | [Sanders: Clinton is running a ‘desperate’ campaign that lacks excitement] |
| On Wednesday, the former secretary of state, senator from New York and first lady shouted her disgust at what she called an underhanded tax dodge by Johnson Controls, a Michigan auto-parts manufacturer that benefited from the federal auto bailout but now seeks an offshore tax advantage. | On Wednesday, the former secretary of state, senator from New York and first lady shouted her disgust at what she called an underhanded tax dodge by Johnson Controls, a Michigan auto-parts manufacturer that benefited from the federal auto bailout but now seeks an offshore tax advantage. |
| “Here is as direct an example of what’s wrong with the thinking and acting of American corporations,” Clinton told the enthusiastic crowd in tiny Adel. “Because here is a company that all of us in this room helped to save,” she said. | “Here is as direct an example of what’s wrong with the thinking and acting of American corporations,” Clinton told the enthusiastic crowd in tiny Adel. “Because here is a company that all of us in this room helped to save,” she said. |
| “They were happy to take that help, regardless of how hard it was for you during that time,” she said, asserting that the bailout worked to save jobs. | “They were happy to take that help, regardless of how hard it was for you during that time,” she said, asserting that the bailout worked to save jobs. |
| “It is wrong!” she shouted, referring to the European merger announced this week. | “It is wrong!” she shouted, referring to the European merger announced this week. |
| Clinton continues to frame her own qualities in terms that are meant to draw a contrast with Sanders. During a long day of campaigning Tuesday, she gently asserted that her Wall Street reform plan is more comprehensive than Sanders’s and her college tuition program more fair. | Clinton continues to frame her own qualities in terms that are meant to draw a contrast with Sanders. During a long day of campaigning Tuesday, she gently asserted that her Wall Street reform plan is more comprehensive than Sanders’s and her college tuition program more fair. |
| “Even though I do have differences with my esteemed friends who are with me on the Democratic side, I am very proud of the campaign we Democrats have run,” she said in Decorah. | “Even though I do have differences with my esteemed friends who are with me on the Democratic side, I am very proud of the campaign we Democrats have run,” she said in Decorah. |
| She is also waxing long on her decades in public life, the nerve-racking decisions in the Situation Room when she was President Obama’s secretary of state and the political combat that has made her a polarizing figure in American political life. She seemed to be trying to demonstrate that she can muster the grit and fire that voters have come to expect more from the messy-haired, 74-year-old democratic socialist. She regularly mentions her many fights for progressive causes, notably the ugly battle with Republicans over universal health coverage, which she lost in the 1990s. | She is also waxing long on her decades in public life, the nerve-racking decisions in the Situation Room when she was President Obama’s secretary of state and the political combat that has made her a polarizing figure in American political life. She seemed to be trying to demonstrate that she can muster the grit and fire that voters have come to expect more from the messy-haired, 74-year-old democratic socialist. She regularly mentions her many fights for progressive causes, notably the ugly battle with Republicans over universal health coverage, which she lost in the 1990s. |
| Several Clinton backers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about internal strategy said Clinton is more comfortable talking about her own qualifications than Sanders’s flaws. | Several Clinton backers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about internal strategy said Clinton is more comfortable talking about her own qualifications than Sanders’s flaws. |
| That discomfort was amplified by the fact that many of the high-profile surrogates who fanned across Iowa last weekend were avoiding any direct attacks on Sanders. That left Clinton — and her husband, Bill Clinton, and daughter, Chelsea — largely alone in attack mode | That discomfort was amplified by the fact that many of the high-profile surrogates who fanned across Iowa last weekend were avoiding any direct attacks on Sanders. That left Clinton — and her husband, Bill Clinton, and daughter, Chelsea — largely alone in attack mode |
| Democratic Sens. Timothy M. Kaine (Va.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.) have campaigned in the state on Clinton’s behalf, and only McCaskill has vocally noted that Republicans would be eager to attack Sanders as a “socialist.” | Democratic Sens. Timothy M. Kaine (Va.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.) have campaigned in the state on Clinton’s behalf, and only McCaskill has vocally noted that Republicans would be eager to attack Sanders as a “socialist.” |
| “You’ll find among Democrats in the Senate that we all love Bernie,” said former senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who supports Clinton. “I would never criticize him.” | “You’ll find among Democrats in the Senate that we all love Bernie,” said former senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who supports Clinton. “I would never criticize him.” |
| In 2008, Clinton was broadsided by Obama’s superior operation on the ground — and also by the liberal optimism of his message. | In 2008, Clinton was broadsided by Obama’s superior operation on the ground — and also by the liberal optimism of his message. |
| “Hillary Clinton did the 40,000-foot bombing over Iowa,” said Harkin, who remained neutral in 2008. “Barack Obama was like the Marines: down in the weeds, door to door, house to house.” | |
| This time, Clinton dramatically shifted her field operation to try to replicate Obama’s success identifying voters. But she has continued to struggle to connect with Iowa Democrats on an emotional level. | This time, Clinton dramatically shifted her field operation to try to replicate Obama’s success identifying voters. But she has continued to struggle to connect with Iowa Democrats on an emotional level. |
| “Anytime you go negative, you run the risk of turning off your own supporters,” said Paul Tewes, who ran Obama’s 2008 campaign in Iowa. “Their liberal tendencies tend to be on the optimistic side. When negative things happen, they don’t always respond well.” | “Anytime you go negative, you run the risk of turning off your own supporters,” said Paul Tewes, who ran Obama’s 2008 campaign in Iowa. “Their liberal tendencies tend to be on the optimistic side. When negative things happen, they don’t always respond well.” |
| Clinton’s troubles in Iowa are especially acute among voters such as one she encountered at the town hall Monday at Drake University: a young man leaning toward Sanders who told Clinton that his friends think she is “dishonest.” | Clinton’s troubles in Iowa are especially acute among voters such as one she encountered at the town hall Monday at Drake University: a young man leaning toward Sanders who told Clinton that his friends think she is “dishonest.” |
| “You know, look, I’ve been around a long time. People have thrown all kinds of things at me,” Clinton said as she paced the floor and waved her hands to punctuate her response. “And I’m still standing.” | “You know, look, I’ve been around a long time. People have thrown all kinds of things at me,” Clinton said as she paced the floor and waved her hands to punctuate her response. “And I’m still standing.” |
| [At Iowa town hall, Clinton gave an impassioned answer to Sanders supporters who doubt her character] | [At Iowa town hall, Clinton gave an impassioned answer to Sanders supporters who doubt her character] |
| As Sanders erased her once-steady lead over several weeks in December and January, Clinton began attacking Sanders as naive and his proposals as unrealistic. | As Sanders erased her once-steady lead over several weeks in December and January, Clinton began attacking Sanders as naive and his proposals as unrealistic. |
| Her campaign tried to discredit Sanders’s support for single-payer health coverage as an effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. | Her campaign tried to discredit Sanders’s support for single-payer health coverage as an effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. |
| There was also a seemingly endless flow of snarky Twitter messages and telephone press conferences to needle Sanders. In one characteristic jab last week, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted, “In one wk, Sanders flipped on gun vote he defended for months, rushed out changes to 20yr health plan & walked back insult to @PPact & @HRC.” | There was also a seemingly endless flow of snarky Twitter messages and telephone press conferences to needle Sanders. In one characteristic jab last week, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted, “In one wk, Sanders flipped on gun vote he defended for months, rushed out changes to 20yr health plan & walked back insult to @PPact & @HRC.” |
| But it has done little to move Iowans, according to recent polls, which show Sanders with 46 percent and Clinton at 45.8 percent, according to an average compiled by RealClearPolitics. Sanders, on the other hand, claimed to have raised more than $1.4 million from his army of supporters online during the 24-hour period of the heaviest attacks earlier this month. | |
| [Clinton’s attacks produce windfall of campaign cash for Sanders] | [Clinton’s attacks produce windfall of campaign cash for Sanders] |
| Now, Clinton takes pains to emphasize that she and Sanders share “exactly the same goal” of universal coverage. She continues to say that her plan would reach the goal sooner by building on the current law rather than starting over entirely. | Now, Clinton takes pains to emphasize that she and Sanders share “exactly the same goal” of universal coverage. She continues to say that her plan would reach the goal sooner by building on the current law rather than starting over entirely. |
| She also pledged this week to tackle reducing college tuition costs — a major issue that has drawn young supporters to Sanders — within the first 100 days of her presidency. She pledged to “crack down” on the “greed” of corporations that raise drug prices on sick Americans, and she noted that Wall Street barons are urging Iowans to vote against her because they know she will “come right after them.” | She also pledged this week to tackle reducing college tuition costs — a major issue that has drawn young supporters to Sanders — within the first 100 days of her presidency. She pledged to “crack down” on the “greed” of corporations that raise drug prices on sick Americans, and she noted that Wall Street barons are urging Iowans to vote against her because they know she will “come right after them.” |
| Meanwhile, in a pair of powerful ads on Iowa airwaves this week, the Sanders campaign has shifted to a message aimed at inspiring the same feeling of “hope and change” that propelled Obama to the presidency in 2008. | Meanwhile, in a pair of powerful ads on Iowa airwaves this week, the Sanders campaign has shifted to a message aimed at inspiring the same feeling of “hope and change” that propelled Obama to the presidency in 2008. |
| (Sanders has also questioned Clinton’s commitment to Wall Street reform and likened her to former vice president Richard B. Cheney. The Clinton campaign accused Sanders on Wednesday of waffling on his earlier pledge never to run a negative campaign.) | (Sanders has also questioned Clinton’s commitment to Wall Street reform and likened her to former vice president Richard B. Cheney. The Clinton campaign accused Sanders on Wednesday of waffling on his earlier pledge never to run a negative campaign.) |
| Clinton’s messaging on Iowa airwaves is also morphing to become more biographical — leaning more heavily on her work advocating for children and families. | Clinton’s messaging on Iowa airwaves is also morphing to become more biographical — leaning more heavily on her work advocating for children and families. |
| In a recent spot focused on her efforts to elevate women’s rights issues on a global scale, Clinton closes the ad with a fresh tagline: “I am Hillary Clinton, and I have always approved this message.” | In a recent spot focused on her efforts to elevate women’s rights issues on a global scale, Clinton closes the ad with a fresh tagline: “I am Hillary Clinton, and I have always approved this message.” |
| It is the kind of message anxious supporters such as 50-year-old Alma Garza hope to see more of. | It is the kind of message anxious supporters such as 50-year-old Alma Garza hope to see more of. |
| “I think she’s awesome. But how do you translate that into her commercials, into her? I don’t know,” Garza, who had waited about two hours outside in the subfreezing temperatures to see Clinton speak in a Des Moines high school auditorium this week. “Bernie Sanders has an ability to connect in a charismatic way. | “I think she’s awesome. But how do you translate that into her commercials, into her? I don’t know,” Garza, who had waited about two hours outside in the subfreezing temperatures to see Clinton speak in a Des Moines high school auditorium this week. “Bernie Sanders has an ability to connect in a charismatic way. |
| “It’s that magnetism that she’s not inherently able to transmit,” Garza added. “She’s got it. . . . But we don’t get to see those moments often.” | “It’s that magnetism that she’s not inherently able to transmit,” Garza added. “She’s got it. . . . But we don’t get to see those moments often.” |
| Phillip reported from Des Moines. | Phillip reported from Des Moines. |